Post by Ismail AbdulAzeez on Jan 10, 2021 16:07:18 GMT 1
Dry Season Maize Farming – Farmers To Receive N2bn Farm Inputs
Maize farmers in Nigeria will recall that during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Federal Republic of Nigeria revised its foreign exchange policy to ban maize importers from accessing foreign exchange through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Also the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development disclosed that the national output for maize stood at 10.5 million metric tonnes while the national demand stood at 15.5 million metric tonnes, thereby leaving a whopping gap of a deficit of 5 million metric tonnes annually. Therefore the Federal Government, state governments and various farmers’ organizations are keying in to fill the gap and even lead us to surplus in maize production.
The Maize Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (MAGPAMAN) recently disclosed that it will soon start distributing N2 billion worth of farm inputs for dry season maize farming in the country. This is coming under the CBN/MAGPAMAN /Anchor’s Borrowers Scheme.
The Kaduna State Chairman of the Association, Alhaji Lawal-Maishanu Gazara disclosed this through the News Agency of Nigeria.
According to Alhaji Gazara, the dry season farming of crops will start by the end of January 2021; the reason is to avoid the hash effects of the harmattan in the country. About 5,000 farmers are expected to benefit from the scheme, and they will go with items like machines and equipment for maize flour production.
Alhaji Gazara disclosed as follows: The CBN/MAGPAMAN /Anchor’s Borrowers Scheme has engaged 5,000 farmers out of which 4,000 are youths of 30 years and below. These youths are now gainfully employed, and 2,500 women were also engaged for the processing of maize flour.
The chairman also disclosed that the size of each farm has been captured and an identity card issued to each of the project beneficiaries for easy identification and documentation. This will also help the beneficiaries to easily have access to required support when needed and for the project organizers to reach them easily as the need arises.
There is equally a beautiful arrangement put in place to share the proceeds of the business venture. The chairman stated that during the 2020 wet season that the farmers received improved maize seedlings, fertilizer, herbicides and other maize farming components that will help the farmers realize between 30 to 40 bags of maize per hectare. The national average of maize yield is 20 bags per hectare in Nigeria. You can see how this improved seedling has doubled the yield up to 40 bags per hectare.
The chairman also revealed that the arrangement for repayment by the farmers is as follows: During the wet season, the farmers will repay about 10 to 15 bags of maize and keep 15 to 25 bags as profit from the venture for the season.
This is a beautiful system that will surely benefit all parties involved in this noble effort to boost agricultural productivity in Nigeria. Though sometime there may be a high rate of default in repayment by the farmers, we ask that the government will be patient with the young farmers as most of them are just new in the business.
We of this forum are happy that this type of project is being undertaken in this country at this critical phase of economic depression that has befallen the nation. This if continued and supported by the government will surely boost food supply and help the state and the country achieve food security. With this sort of encouragement given to the youths and women, youth unemployment will soon become a thing of the past in the state and the country.
Nigeria will boost its foreign exchange earnings as the huge forex normally used in importing maize will be saved. Youths from other states are enjoined to check with their state ministries of agriculture to avail themselves of similar opportunities. There are many projects initiated by the federal government in many states of the federation that are meant for farmers to increase food production.
Maize farmers in Nigeria will recall that during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Federal Republic of Nigeria revised its foreign exchange policy to ban maize importers from accessing foreign exchange through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Also the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development disclosed that the national output for maize stood at 10.5 million metric tonnes while the national demand stood at 15.5 million metric tonnes, thereby leaving a whopping gap of a deficit of 5 million metric tonnes annually. Therefore the Federal Government, state governments and various farmers’ organizations are keying in to fill the gap and even lead us to surplus in maize production.
The Maize Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (MAGPAMAN) recently disclosed that it will soon start distributing N2 billion worth of farm inputs for dry season maize farming in the country. This is coming under the CBN/MAGPAMAN /Anchor’s Borrowers Scheme.
The Kaduna State Chairman of the Association, Alhaji Lawal-Maishanu Gazara disclosed this through the News Agency of Nigeria.
According to Alhaji Gazara, the dry season farming of crops will start by the end of January 2021; the reason is to avoid the hash effects of the harmattan in the country. About 5,000 farmers are expected to benefit from the scheme, and they will go with items like machines and equipment for maize flour production.
Alhaji Gazara disclosed as follows: The CBN/MAGPAMAN /Anchor’s Borrowers Scheme has engaged 5,000 farmers out of which 4,000 are youths of 30 years and below. These youths are now gainfully employed, and 2,500 women were also engaged for the processing of maize flour.
The chairman also disclosed that the size of each farm has been captured and an identity card issued to each of the project beneficiaries for easy identification and documentation. This will also help the beneficiaries to easily have access to required support when needed and for the project organizers to reach them easily as the need arises.
There is equally a beautiful arrangement put in place to share the proceeds of the business venture. The chairman stated that during the 2020 wet season that the farmers received improved maize seedlings, fertilizer, herbicides and other maize farming components that will help the farmers realize between 30 to 40 bags of maize per hectare. The national average of maize yield is 20 bags per hectare in Nigeria. You can see how this improved seedling has doubled the yield up to 40 bags per hectare.
The chairman also revealed that the arrangement for repayment by the farmers is as follows: During the wet season, the farmers will repay about 10 to 15 bags of maize and keep 15 to 25 bags as profit from the venture for the season.
This is a beautiful system that will surely benefit all parties involved in this noble effort to boost agricultural productivity in Nigeria. Though sometime there may be a high rate of default in repayment by the farmers, we ask that the government will be patient with the young farmers as most of them are just new in the business.
We of this forum are happy that this type of project is being undertaken in this country at this critical phase of economic depression that has befallen the nation. This if continued and supported by the government will surely boost food supply and help the state and the country achieve food security. With this sort of encouragement given to the youths and women, youth unemployment will soon become a thing of the past in the state and the country.
Nigeria will boost its foreign exchange earnings as the huge forex normally used in importing maize will be saved. Youths from other states are enjoined to check with their state ministries of agriculture to avail themselves of similar opportunities. There are many projects initiated by the federal government in many states of the federation that are meant for farmers to increase food production.
